The death toll from a recent cylinder blast in Hyderabad has risen to 10, with seven of the 13 injured reported to be in critical condition.
According to officials at Civil Hospital. Another victim succumbed to injuries in the Burns Ward, further escalating the fatality count. The explosion, which took place on May 30 at a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder refilling shop in Hyderabad’s Paretabad area, inflicted severe injuries on multiple individuals, including women and children.
The high casualty rate was exacerbated by a subsequent fire that rapidly spread, impacting many residents. Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abideen Memon announced the closure of LPG shops in populated areas, stating that business owners must obtain a no-objection certificate to operate and only on highways far from residential zones.
Read:Hyderabad Explosion: Six Dead, Over 60 Injured in LPG Cylinder Shop Blast
During a press conference, leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) criticized the local administration’s negligence, which led to the tragedy. Syed Waseem Hussain, MQM-P Member of the National Assembly, pointed out the lack of adequate fire services in Paretabad, a densely populated area with over 600,000 residents, where six of the 11 firefighting vehicles were non-functional.
The situation worsened when a second explosion occurred as residents attempted to extinguish the initial fire, causing further destruction to adjacent houses and shops. This led to 51 people suffering burns and requiring emergency treatment at both Civil Hospital Hyderabad and Combined Military Hospital.
Firefighting continued with assistance from Rescue 1122 and units from neighbouring towns until the blaze was under control. The severity of the incident prompted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other senior officials to demand thorough reports from the deputy commissioner and police authorities, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures and oversight in commercial operations.
